Adam Levitan

Last Minute Decisions

Week 12 Injury Questions

The bye weeks are finally behind us. The average score it takes to win a fantasy game will therefore rise and owners will have more tough decisions to make weekly. Keep grinding.

As we get set for Week 12, we’ll have our eyes on every game. The Rotoworld News Page will be humming all day long to bring you the latest on who is in and who is out. We’ve got rankings from Chris Wesseling/Mike Clay here and Evan Silva’s ridiculously mind-blowing Matchup Column here. Inside the Season Pass, you’ll find flex rankings and exact projections for every player.

If you want to draft a new team just for this week, check our SnapDraft. And if you don’t have it already, you need the Rotoworld App for your iPhone/iPad. Badly.

BILLS at COLTS* Fred Jackson (concussion) is back and a full go. But in one of the biggest fantasy stories of the year, C.J. Spiller will still start and is expected to get the majority of snaps. * Coby Fleener (shoulder) looks like a game-time call. If he plays, it will cap any upside Dwayne Allen had. * Donald Brown is going to play through his knee injury again, but it’s clear Vick Ballard is the top dog here now. * Donnie Avery (concussion) is already cleared. Sorry, T.Y. Hilton.

BRONCOS at CHIEFS* With Willis McGhee (knee) on IR, Ronnie Hillman is expected to lead a committee that will also feature Lance Ball and Knowshon Moreno. * Dwayne Bowe (neck) couldn’t return to last week’s game, but he’s ready to start this week. He’ll be catching passes from Brady Quinn, leaving him as a weak WR3.

49ERS at SAINTS* Alex Smith (concussion) is expected to be cleared. But Colin Kaepernick will still reportedly get the start. He’s on the QB1 radar thanks to his running ability. * Darren Sproles (hand) will make his return, crowding the Saints backfield even further.

RAMS at CARDINALS* Danny Amendola played through a foot injury last week. Maybe he shouldn’t have. He was limping badly afterward and ended up in a walking boot. He’ll sit this week out. * Beanie Wells (toe) returns. He’ll get the vast majority of early-down work with La’Rod Stephens-Howling (ribs) banged up. * Kevin Kolb (ribs) remains sidelined. Ryan Lindley has moved ahead of John Skelton.

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALLPACKERS at GIANTS* Greg Jennings (groin) has resumed light practice, but he’s not in football shape yet. James Jones gets another start even if Jennings ends up active. * Ahmad Bradshaw (foot) is ready to go as the Giants come out of their bye. He’ll cede the goal-line work to Andre Brown. * Domenik Hixon (ankle) is out. Reuben Randle will be the Giants’ No. 3 wideout.

MY TOUGHEST DECISION OF THE WEEKIn a 16-team PPR league, but tight end spot came down to Jermichael Finley or Kyle Rudolph. I’ve decided to go with Rudolph.

Although Finley had a big game in Week 11 with three catches for 66 yards and a touchdown, it wasn’t convincing. He saw just three targets on Aaron Rodgers’ 27 pass attempts and it was a season-high in yardage. Despite massive talent and elite quarterback play, I’m hesitant to say Finley is “back.”

Meanwhile, Rudolph’s matchup is better. The Bears’ Cover-2 scheme opens up the middle of the field for tight ends. As Evan Silva pointed out in Matchups, they’ve given up the fourth-most receptions to tight ends. With Percy Harvin (ankle) out again, the targets should be there for Rudolph. When Percy sat in Week 10, he racked up 7/64/1 line on nine looks.

SURVIVOR PICK OF THE WEEKIt’s an extremely tough week for those still in Survivor. Everyone probably still has the Bengals in their pocket and most owners are going to use them in the Carson Palmer bowl. I like that play, but it might be a spot I try to “fade the consensus.”

I think the Bears are a solid play at home against a Percy Harvin-less Vikings team. They got a good wake-up call against the Niners last week and have made adjustments on the offensive line. And even though the Broncos are on the road, it’s hard to see the Chiefs rising up at this point. They’ve packed it in.

The bye weeks are finally behind us. The average score it takes to win a fantasy game will therefore rise and owners will have more tough decisions to make weekly. Keep grinding.

As we get set for Week 12, we’ll have our eyes on every game. The Rotoworld News Page will be humming all day long to bring you the latest on who is in and who is out. We’ve got rankings from Chris Wesseling/Mike Clay here and Evan Silva’s ridiculously mind-blowing Matchup Column here. Inside the Season Pass, you’ll find flex rankings and exact projections for every player.

If you want to draft a new team just for this week, check our SnapDraft. And if you don’t have it already, you need the Rotoworld App for your iPhone/iPad. Badly.

BILLS at COLTS* Fred Jackson (concussion) is back and a full go. But in one of the biggest fantasy stories of the year, C.J. Spiller will still start and is expected to get the majority of snaps. * Coby Fleener (shoulder) looks like a game-time call. If he plays, it will cap any upside Dwayne Allen had. * Donald Brown is going to play through his knee injury again, but it’s clear Vick Ballard is the top dog here now. * Donnie Avery (concussion) is already cleared. Sorry, T.Y. Hilton.

BRONCOS at CHIEFS* With Willis McGhee (knee) on IR, Ronnie Hillman is expected to lead a committee that will also feature Lance Ball and Knowshon Moreno. * Dwayne Bowe (neck) couldn’t return to last week’s game, but he’s ready to start this week. He’ll be catching passes from Brady Quinn, leaving him as a weak WR3.

49ERS at SAINTS* Alex Smith (concussion) is expected to be cleared. But Colin Kaepernick will still reportedly get the start. He’s on the QB1 radar thanks to his running ability. * Darren Sproles (hand) will make his return, crowding the Saints backfield even further.

RAMS at CARDINALS* Danny Amendola played through a foot injury last week. Maybe he shouldn’t have. He was limping badly afterward and ended up in a walking boot. He’ll sit this week out. * Beanie Wells (toe) returns. He’ll get the vast majority of early-down work with La’Rod Stephens-Howling (ribs) banged up. * Kevin Kolb (ribs) remains sidelined. Ryan Lindley has moved ahead of John Skelton.

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALLPACKERS at GIANTS* Greg Jennings (groin) has resumed light practice, but he’s not in football shape yet. James Jones gets another start even if Jennings ends up active. * Ahmad Bradshaw (foot) is ready to go as the Giants come out of their bye. He’ll cede the goal-line work to Andre Brown. * Domenik Hixon (ankle) is out. Reuben Randle will be the Giants’ No. 3 wideout.

MY TOUGHEST DECISION OF THE WEEKIn a 16-team PPR league, but tight end spot came down to Jermichael Finley or Kyle Rudolph. I’ve decided to go with Rudolph.

Although Finley had a big game in Week 11 with three catches for 66 yards and a touchdown, it wasn’t convincing. He saw just three targets on Aaron Rodgers’ 27 pass attempts and it was a season-high in yardage. Despite massive talent and elite quarterback play, I’m hesitant to say Finley is “back.”

Meanwhile, Rudolph’s matchup is better. The Bears’ Cover-2 scheme opens up the middle of the field for tight ends. As Evan Silva pointed out in Matchups, they’ve given up the fourth-most receptions to tight ends. With Percy Harvin (ankle) out again, the targets should be there for Rudolph. When Percy sat in Week 10, he racked up 7/64/1 line on nine looks.

SURVIVOR PICK OF THE WEEKIt’s an extremely tough week for those still in Survivor. Everyone probably still has the Bengals in their pocket and most owners are going to use them in the Carson Palmer bowl. I like that play, but it might be a spot I try to “fade the consensus.”

I think the Bears are a solid play at home against a Percy Harvin-less Vikings team. They got a good wake-up call against the Niners last week and have made adjustments on the offensive line. And even though the Broncos are on the road, it’s hard to see the Chiefs rising up at this point. They’ve packed it in.

Adam Levitan is in his seventh season covering football and basketball for Rotoworld. He won the Fantasy Sports Writers Association award for Best Series in 2011 and 2009, and ESPN's overall fantasy football title in 2000. Find him on Twitter.Email :Adam Levitan